Curtain-fastener



(No Medal.)

J. F. POW-ELL. CURTAIN FASTBNER.

No. 597,511. Patented Jan. 18,1898.

IS mans co, PHOTO-LUNG" wasnmum n c UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES F. PO WELL, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DASH AND CARRIAGE GOODS COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

/ CURTAlN-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 597,51 1, dated January 18, 1898.

Application filed February 17, 1897. $erial No. 623,842. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it nuty concern: 7

Be it known that I, JAMES F. Pownnna citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fasteners, of which the followingisafull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in curtain-fasteners specially designed for attaching and holding in place the curtains of vehicles, though of course it may be used for any other purpose. The usual method of fastening these curtains is by means of buttons and buttonholes or similar devices, in which the holder is stationary and fixed, and when the curtain itself shrinks or becomes draw'n or stretched what might be termed the female fastener does not fit with or register with the male. Then, .too, when the points of connection are fixed and the warping or stretching or shrinking of one does not correspond with that of the other they cease to fit. It is desirable, therefore, to devise a fastener which will obviatethese difficulties and in. which the point of contact or connection. is not fixed, but is changeable and may be varied to accommodate changed conditions.

It consists of a fastener or clasp attached fixedly to one part, but susceptible of grasping the other at any point which may be presented and at the same time hold the two firmly together, as will be hereinafter more fully described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation or view of the improvedfastoner in place. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the reverse side, showing the fastening-plate. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the base or frame of the fastener. Fig. 4 is a vertical side View showing the curtain attached. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of Fig.4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the swinging plate. Fig. '7 is a cross-section taken through the lines X X in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the eccentric-lock.

In the illustrations and in the description which is to follow the fastener is shown as applied to attach a back or side curtain to the top of a vehicle, A representing the fixed perpendicular portion of a vehicle-top, and B the curtain to be removably attached to the same. It will be readily understood that if the curtain B is attached to the top A by means of a button and buttonhole or any stationary unyielding connection when the curtain shrinks either the buttonhole must be torn or the curtain pulled out of shape, or if the pendent part of the top shrinks it is liable to bring the button and huttonhole at points which do not connect and correspond.

The entire fastening device is attached fiX- edly to one part or the other, naturally and preferably to the top, and is so arranged and constructed that when the curtain 13 is put in place the fastener will grasp it firmly at whateverpoint corresponds with said fastener and hold it.

O is a wire bent, as shown in Fig. 5, to form adouble rectangular loop curved at one end and inclosed in a thin plate D, of sheet metal, and preferably provided with a cross-plate F, covering the two parts of the wire, so as to give a fiat smooth surface inside and bent or curved upward at the inner end, as shown at F, Fig. 5. Between the two loops of wire 0 0 there is an open space E to receive the edge of the curtain to be fastened.

G is a plate which I have called the swinging plate. It is curved at the rear end, so as to pass over the bent-up-end F of the plate F, which serves to hold said plate G in place, but leave it free to swing within the open space E. The forward end of this swinging plate G is provided with two little hooks g, extending upward from its surface, preferably madeby stamping them out of the metal itself and then bending the ends, as shown.

On the outer or forward end of the upper leg of the wire loop at O is pivoted the cocentric H, preferably made of sheet metal rolled upon itself, the inner edge II curled around the wire O to form a bearing. H is merely a thumhpiece. The cylindrical part of this eccentric II is cut away at h to form a slot to receive the lugs or pins 9 g of the swinging plate Gr,which has a guide to control and lift the plate G.

The bottom of the inclosing sheet-metal plate D is cut away to form the lugs K K to be used in attaching the fastener to the Sta-- tionary part. They are passed through the material of the' stationary part A and then through the slots in the base-plate L and bent over or clenched, thus forming a firm substantial attachment. When the curtain B is to be put in place, the eccentric is turned down in the position shown in Fig. 5. The small pins 9 g, moving in the guide-slot h, serve to lift the outer end of the swinging plate G, forming a sort of jaw to receive the edge of the curtain B. The curtain B is then inserted into this jaw or opening and the cocentric H turned into the position shown in Figs. 1 and t. The longer diameter then of the eccentric H stands between the two legs of the fastener and presses the edge of the curtain B firmly between the plate F and the swinging plate G, holding it firmly and securely. By the use of these plates F and G comparatively broad smooth surfaces are presented to the curtain and hold it firmly without any chance of tearing it and of course will grasp the curtain at any point, so that should the curtain shrink or stretch the fastener will work equally well and will make the attachment at any point,

Of course the fastener may be made stationaryon the removable curtain and used to grasp the skirt or pendent part of the stationary curtain. The fastener also may be attached to the solid or wooden framework of the top where the top has no skirt, the object being to devise a fastener which will grasp the curtain at any point and hold it firmly between broad surfaces to avoid all danger of pulling or tearing.

I prefer to make the framework or base of the fastener of a single piece of wire bent as shown and described, so as to form an opening or j aw,and then cover it with sheet metal,

though of course the whole device may be made of metal of any form desired.

In the drawings in order to show a smooth surface the wire, as shown at Z in Figs. 3 and 4, has been covered over with solder, so as to present a perfectly smooth square surface and give the device a solid appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. -In a curtain fastener or clasp, the body or base bent to form a jaw, an eccentric-having its pivotal or turning point on one end of the jaw, a swinging plate to close the jaw and clasp the fabric or curtain, with lugs or pins on said plate arranged to pass through a slot in said eccentric and thus actuated and controlled thereby, in combination with lugs on the clasp-base to penetrate the fabric and hold the clasp in place, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a curtain fastener or clasp, the body or base bent to form a jaw, an eccentric pivotally connected to one end of the jaw, a swinging plate to close the jaw and clasp the fabric or curtain, lugs on said swinging plate arranged to pass through a slot in the eccentrio whereby the swinging plate is actuated and controlled, in combination with lugs on the clasp-base, said lugs to penetrate the fabric to which the clasp is to be attached and register with slots in abase or fasteningplate, substantially as shown and described.

JAMES F. POWELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN ALGOE, S. U. ANDREWS. 

